With its rings of holly branches, this majolica platter carries the spirit of Christmas. And with its $7,735 sale price at Strawser Auction Group, it’s certainly something to celebrate! But a closer look shows its symbols are a little different from the decorations most of us may be used to.

The birds around the rim are robins; not something you often see on American Christmas decorations, but very popular in the United Kingdom. Robins are often seen there in the winter because they migrate there from Scandinavia and Continental Europe.

Then there are the portrait medallions of a white-bearded man who looks a little, but not entirely, like Santa Claus. Instead of a red suit with a matching fur-trimmed hat, he wears a brown robe, carries a staff and is crowned with a wreath of holly.

This must be Father Christmas, the English personification of the holiday’s festivities. He dates to at least the 15th century and may be influenced by the folkloric figure of the Holly King of winter, whose perpetual battle with the Oak King of summer (who is sometimes represented by a robin) dramatizes the cycle of seasons. As you may have guessed, this platter is an English piece. It was made by George Jones, one of the most celebrated makers of Victorian majolica.

* * *

Q: I found a silver link bracelet in my aunt’s jewelry box after her death at age 93 in 2002, so I believe it’s old and would like some idea of its value. I took it to a jeweler who used a loupe to look at the mark on the underside of the clasp. She said it read “JB” over “830S.”

A: The first clue to the bracelet’s value is the “830S.” That is the silver content, meaning it is 83% silver and 17% alloy of other metals. The standard for sterling silver is 925, meaning 92.5% silver. While not sterling silver, 830 silver still has a relatively high silver content, and its higher percentage of alloy means it is more durable than 925 silver. Scandinavian silversmiths, in particular, used 830 silver in the 20th century. The “JB” mark was used by John Baalerund, whose business operated from 1935 to 1988 in Oslo, Norway. He was known for his enameled silver jewelry. Silver jewelry by Scandinavian designers was extremely popular in the mid-20th century. Think of the “Danish modern” look. Today, 830S silver bracelets from that period generally sell for about $50 to $150.

* * *

Q: I was wondering if you could assist with values for the attached Santas. One is made of resin, about 5 1/2 inches tall with several carved Santas on the sides and back. The second is hand-carved wood. It has a sticker on the bottom that says “Heinzeller” and is 7 1/2 inches tall.

A: Your wooden figure is made by the Heinzeller shop in Oberammergau, Germany. Wood carving has been a tradition in Oberammergau for hundreds of years. Specialties include toys, religious figures and fairy tale characters. Hans Heinzeller founded his wood sculpture company in 1949. The company is still in business, run by the Heinzeller family and selling wood carvings and souvenirs. Vintage Heinzeller carvings can sell from about $15 to over $100, depending on their size and amount of detail. We saw one of their vintage Santa Claus figures recently sell for about $70. There is a lot of interest in Christmas collectibles, so Santa figures can attract more attention and have higher value than others. Resin figurines resembling carved wood have been made since the late 19th century. They were usually made as inexpensive, mass-produced alternatives to hand-carved wooden decorations, so they tend to be worth slightly less than wood carvings. We have seen figures like your resin Santa group sell for about $20 to $45.

* * *

TIP: Candle drippings can be removed from fabric or furniture with the help of ice cubes. Rub the wax with the ice until the wax hardens. Scrape off the hard wax with a credit card or stiff cardboard. If some wax remains, put a blotter over it, and then iron with a warm iron.

* * *

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Silver plate, butter, dome cover, flower urn finial, handle, embossed rose bands, glass insert, four-footed, Victorian, Reed & Barton, 12 inches, $35.

Buffalo Pottery Deldare, pitcher, Robin Hood, dome foot, hunting motif trim, multicolor, buffalo mark, 1907, 8 x 6 inches, $85.

Art deco, punch bowl, chrome cover and ladle, red plastic mounts, glass body, globular, ribbed, c. 1930, 10 x 9 inches, $150.

Furniture, bar cart, rattan, mahogany, laminate, removable tray, lower shelf, casters, c. 1950, 33 x 19 x 28 inches, $270.

Pottery-midcentury, bowl, stylized bird, black on white, signed, dated, Lucy Lewis, Acoma Pueblo, 1960, 3 1/2 inches, $340.

Furniture, table, dining, Renaissance Revival style, mahogany, molded edge, carved supports, barley twist columns, trestle base, scrolled feet, 32 x 79 inches, $485.

Royal Doulton, figurine, Santa Claus, seated on chimney, hand raised, holding sack, red, white, black, HN4175, Robert Tabbenor, c. 2000, 9 1/2 inches, $560.

Fishing, creel, slant lid, painted, pine branch, two fish on front, facing down, yellow ground, buckle closure, canvas strap, signed, Emile Robichaud, 15 inches, $985.

Rug, Frank Lloyd Wright, shaded pink, gray and red geometrics, fringe, wool, import label, Schumacher, 1980s, 10 feet 11 inches x 7 feet 10 inches, $1,260.